DOCUMENTATION

Released in 1964, You Really Got Me was the Kink's third single and did much better in the U.S. then the first two releases, which failed to chart. It was much noisier and forceful then the first two releases, and featured a fierce, two-chord riff and a wild solo from Dave Davies. Not only was the final version the foundation for the Kinks' early sound, but scores of groups used the heavy, power chords as a foundation. You Really Got Me reached number one within a month of its release. 

The first line was originally "You, you really got me going." Ray Davies changed it to "Girl, you really got me going" at the suggestion of one of their advisers. The idea was to appeal to the teenage girls in their audience.
It was rumored that Jimmy Page, who was a session musician at the time, played guitar on this. The band strongly denies this.
The Kinks' next single was "All Day And All Of The Night," which was basically a re-write of this, but was also a hit.

Other performers who have recorded You Really Got Me include Van Halen and The Who

Rick added this song to his set list in 2000 and has been continues to play it through the end of 2004.